The ACTU supports a nationally legislated paid maternity leave scheme. The key features of the scheme should include the following:
- government funding for 14 weeks payment at the federal minimum wage payable
to all women, and
- employer levy to cover gap to average weekly earnings.
This scheme would ensure full income replacement for 87% of women and replacement of at least two thirds of earnings for 97.5% of women. Such a scheme would comply with ILO Convention 183, Maternity Protection 2000.
Many countries also provide paid leave to allow the father/other caregiver to care for the mother and other children of the family around the time of the birth of a child.
Other policies that support workers’ reproductive roles are leave for pregnancy-associated medical appointments and leave for IVF and other fertility programs.
These policies should be implemented through bargaining and through test cases. This could be facilitated by amendments to the Workplace Relations Act which encourage the industrial parties to implement work and family measures in awards and agreements.
More Information
- ACTU Campaigns: ACTU Maternity
Leave Campaign Page- this page outlines the ACTU’s campaign for the
introduction of paid maternity leave for all Australian women and includes a
range of useful resources.
- ACTU Background Paper: An ACTU Action
Plan for Balancing Work and Family Life - this booklet is designed for union
officers, delegates and activists and sets out the ACTU’s commitment to
achieving family friendly workplaces for all Australian workers.